Dental Explorers In Ireland
Written by the Equate Instruments Technical Team · Reviewed by the Medical & Dental Board, Equate Instruments · Published ·
Clinics and distributors in Ireland can buy dental explorers directly from Equate, which lists 64 references. In 2020, the age-standardised incidence of lip and oral cavity cancer in Ireland was 4.0 per 100,000 people, with 317 new cases (WHO).
Key points
- Public water fluoridation in Ireland began in Dublin in 1964, under the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960 (Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology).
Dentists in Ireland at a glance
- Dentists on the Register of Dentists at year end: 3,643 (2023) to 3,783 (2024)
- +3.8% since 2023
- Dentists on the Register of Dentists at year end: 3,643 (2023) to 3,783 (2024)
- Dental Council of Ireland, 2024
- The WHO oral health country profile records 3,217 dentists in Ireland in 2018, or 6.7 per 10,000 people (WHO).
- 6.7
- The WHO oral health country profile records 3,217 dentists in Ireland in 2018, or 6.7 per 10,000 people (WHO).
- World Health Organization, 2018
- dental schools listed
- 2
- dental schools listed
- Equate research
- Untreated caries, age 5+31.6%
- Severe periodontal disease, 15+4.9%
- No natural teeth, 20+12.8%
The dark line marks the median of Equate's 22 markets. Source: WHO Oral Health Country Profiles 2022 (2019 estimates).
Which types of dental explorers do clinics in Ireland stock?
- 11/12 explorers
- Explorer-probe combinations
- Shepherd's hook
How are dental explorers regulated in Ireland?
The HPRA's MDR timetable for Ireland requires the UDI to be placed on reusable class I devices themselves by 26 May 2027 (HPRA).
What is the Ireland market like for dental explorers?
Public water fluoridation in Ireland began in Dublin in 1964, under the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960 (Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology).
In 2007, Ireland lowered its target fluoride level in drinking water from 1.0 mg/L to 0.7 mg/L, narrowing the permitted range to 0.6–0.8 mg/L (Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology).
Popular Equate dental explorers for Ireland
All products
dental explorers
Explorer Fig. 17 Hollow Handle 10mm
EI-1925
dental explorers
Dental Explorer Fig. 8A - Hollow Handle 10mm
EI-1928
dental explorers
Explorer Fig. 9 Hollow Handle 10mm
EI-1929
dental explorers
Explorer 5 - Double-Ended Diagnostic Explorer
EI-0044
dental explorers
Explorer Fig. 2 Extra Thin - Solid Handle 6mm
EI-0132
dental explorers
Fig. 9 Extra Thin Dental Explorer - 6 mm Solid Handle
EI-0178
dental explorers
Explorer 11-12 Blue
EI-1179
dental explorers
Explorer 11F-12F Flexible, Light Blue
EI-1180
Where do dental students in Ireland learn to use dental explorers?
Dental explorers are part of clinical training at Ireland's 2 dental schools, including School of Dental Science, Trinity College Dublin and Cork University Dental School and Hospital, University College Cork.
What do dentists in Ireland search for when buying dental explorers?
In UK & Ireland, dental explorers draw about 1,350 searches a month (Google Keyword Planner bands, October 2025 to September 2026). The most searched terms are "dental explorer", "cowhorn explorer", "dental explorer 11 12" and "dental explorer tool".
Which dental explorers does Equate supply to Ireland?
How should dental explorers be cleaned and sterilised in Ireland?
In Ireland, all new dental premises opened after 1 January 2016 must have a separate local decontamination room fitted out for a washer-disinfector, under the Dental Council's code (Dental Council).
Why do dentists in Ireland need dental explorers?
A dental explorer is a slender hand instrument with a fine, sharp, flexible tip that the clinician uses to feel the tooth surface. See the full guide to dental Explorers.
Why do practices in Ireland buy dental explorers from Equate?
- Built to one specification across the range: passivated stainless steel, ultrasonically cleaned, shape-, boil- and performance-tested and individually packed.
- A named Regional Executive for UK & Ireland handles quotes, samples and volume pricing for NHS and private practices and dental groups and hospital departments in Ireland.
Equate data
The Equate dental explorers range for Ireland
Catalogue explorer: 64 references
Starter kit for a new practice in Ireland
- Shepherd's hook:Shepherd's Hook Explorer No.23EI-0035
- Subgingival explorer:Explorer 11-12 BlueEI-1179
What buyers search for
About 1,350 searches a month across 18 related terms.
- dental explorer500
- cowhorn explorer50
- dental explorer 11 1250
- dental explorer tool50
- dental explorer types50
- dg 16 endodontic explorer50
Your Regional Executive · UK & Ireland
Nader Chaudhry
Regional Executive, London, UK
Frequently asked questions
Can clinics in Ireland buy dental explorers directly from Equate?
Yes. Equate sells directly to clinics, dental groups and distributors in Ireland. The Regional Executive for UK & Ireland handles quotes, samples and volume pricing.
What sterilisation rules apply to dental explorers in Ireland?
The Dental Council's code states that an automated washer-disinfector should be used to clean dental instruments in Ireland, with steam autoclaving the method of choice for sterilisation (Dental Council).
References
- World Health Organization (2020)
- Health Products Regulatory Authority (2027)
- Dental Council of Ireland (2020)
- Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (via PMC) (1964)
- Gehrig JS, et al. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation & Advanced Root Instrumentation. Wolters Kluwer (instrument design and explorers)
- Ekstrand K, Qvist V, Thylstrup A. Light microscope study of the effect of probing in occlusal surfaces. Caries Research 1987;21(4):368–374
- Ismail AI, Sohn W, Tellez M, et al. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS): an integrated system for measuring dental caries. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 2007;35(3):170–178
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